Corn snapping, cutting, and husking machine.



No. 680,200. Patented Aug. 6, HM. H. L. FERRIS. CORN SNAPPING, CUTTING,AND HUSKING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 24, 1900.;

2 Sheeis--Sheet I.

,(No Model.)

ma "cams PEYERS co woro-umo" WASflINGTOM b. c.

No. 680,200. Patented Aug. 6, l90l.

H L. FERRIS. COR-N SNAPPING, CUTTING, AND HUSKING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 24, 1900.\ (No Model.) 0 {Sheets-Sheet 2.

we mums PEYERS co. mcn'o-uwo. wumusrcm c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. FERRIS, or HARVARD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HUNT, HELM, FERRIS &COMPANY, or SAME PLACE.

CORN SNAPPING, CUTTING,AND HUSKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 680,200, dated August 6,1901.

Application filed July 24, 1900.

To 11% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY L. FERRIS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Harvard, in the county of McHenry and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CornSnapping, Cutting, and Husking Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in corn snapping, cutting,and husking machines, the object of the same being to better the generaloperation of the machine, render more convenient the handling of thesame, and to remove as far as possible all danger to the operator ofinjury which might be caused through his own carelessness.

To such end the invention consists in certain improvements, the exactnature of which will be pointed out below.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of the complete machine. Fig. 2is a front elevation thereof with the exception of the auxiliaryfeed-table, the direction of the view being indicated by the arrow 2 inFig. 1. Fig 3 is a detailed vertical section through the feedrolls andadjacent parts, the section being taken in the line 3 3 of Fig. 4; andFig. at is a detail side view of the parts seen in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the main frame A of the machine is preferablymade up of suitable longitudinal members Ct, vertical posts ct a andtranverse members a a at a, securely bolted together and forming asubstantial and rigid framework for supporting the operating parts ofthe machine. Above this frame are supported a feed-table B and auxiliarytable B, one end of the feed-table resting upon ablock 11, secured tothe members "a aflits free end being supported by the diagonal brace 12.The feed-table directs the stalks of corn beneath a guide-board b to apair of snapping and feed rolls 0 c,Figs. 1 and 3, which pinch the earsof corn from the stalks, dropping them down into a bushing-trough D, thestalks being fed between the rolls to a rotating knife E, which cutsthem up into short portions and delivers the latter through a chute 6into a suitable elevator (not shown in the drawings) or other devicesfor removing them from the machine. The snapping or feed rolls, Figs. 3and 4, are driven bya gear Serial No. 24,646. (No model.)

a, loosely mounted on a hollow shaft 0, to which. the roll 0 isfastened. Said hollow shaft bears at the opposite end a pinion 0 in meshwith a pinion 0 upon a shaft 0 carrying the other snapping-roll O. thehollow shaft 0, adjacent to the gear 0, is feathered a cap 0 providedwith clutch-teeth 0, adapted to engage with corresponding teeth 0 of thegear, Fig. 1, and disengage therefrom by the movement of the cap awayfrom the gear. This movement is controlled by a rod 0 threaded to thecap and bearing a jam-nut c tightened upon the same, which rod extendsthrough the hollow shaft and bears upon its opposite end a spool cembraced by a yoke c", Fig. 4, upon a bar 0, Fig. 1, pivoted to links co the other ends of which are pivoted to brackets upon the feed-trough,the link o being extended beyond the bar-pivot in the form of a handle cby means of which the bar and yoke may be reciprocated longitudinallyand thereby, because of the link connection with the feedtrough, bedrawn toward or moved away from said trough. When the handle 0 is pushedin the direction of the arrow 00, Fig. 1, the yoke is crowded toward thefeed-roll, pushing the rod to the right in Fig. 3 and withdrawing theteeth of the cap from those of the gear 0, which disengages the gearfrom the shaft and disconnects the feed-rolls from the drivingmechanism. The operator who feeds the machine stands at the positionmarked X in Fig. l, and it should be noticed that if through eagernessto crowd the corn between the snapping-rolls he should attempt to movetoo closely to said rolls his body will necessarily bear upon the handle0 and disengage the feed rolls before his hands can be caught thereby.This adds greatly to the safety of the operator while engaged in feedingthe machine.

The frame of the machine is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to contain verticalguides c c in which are guided bearing-blocks c 0 for the upperfeed-roll. Coiled springs 0 0* crowd the upper roll downward and arethemselves placed under tension by plates 0 0 forced downward byadjusting-screws c 0. Back of the feed-rolls is a casing c, Fig. 4,provided with a'hinged cover 6 Within which is jour- Upon the end ofnaled the rotary cutting-knife E upon a shaft 6 carried in suitablebearings at the sides of the machine and extending beyond the easingupon both sides. 'Without the casing it carries a main driving-pulley EFig. 1, and fly-wheel E and also certain pulleys and gears for drivingother portions of the mechanism. Among these is a pinion E ,'whichmeshes with the gear 0, above described, to drive the snapping or feedrolls. Within the casing the shaft carries a series of spiders e e at,to which are secured the spiral cutting-knives 6 A cutting edge isprovided by means of a block E,having laterally-extending lugs a Fig.at, at its opposite ends to rest upon the frame, and slotted at e toreceive a bolt e, Fig. 4, by means of which it may be clamped inposition. Suitable openings are provided in the casing through whichthis lug may extend, and an upright extension e upon each leg hasthreaded in it an adj listing-screw e, bearing upon the frame of thecasing and providing means of accurate adjustment of the cutting edgetoward the knives.

More or less of the details of the construction above described areimmaterial to the improvements claimed, and I do not limit myself tosaid details, except as they are essential to the invention set forthbelow.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a machineof the class described, the combination with the feed-rolls, of a clutchfor connecting and disconnecting the same crating-handle for said clutchsuitably connected therewith,located in the ordinarypath of movement ofthe body of the feeder as he approaches the feed-rolls, and moving inthe same direction to disengage the clutch; substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with alongitudinally-reciprocating clutch-operating rod, 0 of an operating-bar therefor at right angles and slidingly connected to said rod, saidbar being carried by a pair of links, one of which forms anoperating-handle forreciprocating the bar longitudinally and laterally;substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a suitable framework, of a HENRY L. FERRIS.

Witnesses:

BLAKE B. BELL, JOHN GRoss.

